Is Kendrick Lamar really that good?
Okay so I'm not trying to hate but idk I just kinda get confused when I hear people say that Kendrick is better than Tupac? He has good music yeah but everyone in my school is all over him and I personally don't see it? Please let me know your thoughts am I just not getting it or what?
Is Kendrick Lamar a better lyricist than Eminem? Why?
These are 9 lines from Eminem’s memorable song “Lose Yourself”.39 Syllables.These are 9 lines from Kendrick Lamar’s memorable song “Rigamortus”.31 Syllables.Of course this a select moment from 1 of their many songs, but I think it’s representative of each as a lyricist.Eminem’s verse is technically superior, but there’s nothing particularly complex about what he’s saying. No wordplay or punch-lines. No double meanings. He gives us detail, and his ability to construct such a proficient verse is astounding, but nothing about the actual content genuinely demands playback. It’s understood with one listen.Kendrick Lamar’s verse, despite it not having as many syllables, is noticeably more complex. Lamar uses wordplay ( .. and I’m Morpheus, the matrix of my mind), extends colloquial sayings (And tell me that you biting style, you got a hell of an appetite), and kind of just combines words that don’t appear to make sense with one listen (I’m out the orbit, you an orphan and a hairdresser combined).Artists command their lyricism differently.Jay-Z, for example, is a master at wordplay and double meanings, which is known for flying over the head of some listeners.Lil Wayne, for example, uses punch-lines indefinitely, which can occasionally be impressive and eyebrow-raising.Eminem fits the mold of Rakim, Notorious B.I.G., Andre 3000 and others. From his vocabulary, he tries to construct words that rhyme every moment they can, and he mostly succeeds.Kendrick Lamar appears to take lessons from all of these people. He has those Eminem-style, technically dense verses. He has the Lil Wayne punchlines. He has the Jay-Z wordplay and double meanings. He even has far-reaching references of his own that sound near-nonsensical.Lamar isn’t a better technician than Eminem but he’s far more diverse with his vocabulary.What do you think?
Is Kendrick Lamar the greatest rapper to ever live?
This an opinion based question, so I'll give you an opinion based answer.No.He's good, yes. He's been successful, and by comparison he's a lot better than the plethora of mainstream rappers out today. (Looking at you 21 savage, tentacion, Migos, Kodak, Uzi, etc)But when we compare him to the likes of Eminem, JayZ, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg, with their long and influential careers, or when we compare him with 2pac or biggie, though both short-lived, extremely influential, I don't think Kendrick is there (yet).From years of listening to wordplay-heavy rappers like Eminem and Childish Gambino, I can honestly say Kendrick’s world play is okay. Not phenomenal.His beats feel quite polarizing at times, either too busy or too simple.His “realness,” and deviation (or lack thereof) from the subject matter of garbage mainstream artists is concerning me too. With songs like Humble and DNA, which are still good songs in their own way I suppose, he seems to be following the mainstream more, and personally that's not what I like.Humble for example, has lots of repitition, pretty minimal wordplay, pretty slow rapping, mainstream subject, that sorta thing.For comparison, a Logic song called Everybody dropped around the same time. He's one of my favorite artists now cause he's been recently making a lot of songs about acceptance and peace rather than the usual “I fucked yo bitch, get money, smoke weed, fuck the police, imma kill yo ass” etc. that most rappers put out. But logic still manages to make the whole preachy "love everyone!” message seem cool.Overall I like Kendrick. But I liked him more a few years ago. In songs like Fragile with Tech N9ne, songs like that were imo the best Kendrick songs. Why? Because they were dope without trying to be, if you will. Just listen to that song, then listen to Humble and tell me which has more residual emotion, which is TRYING to be lit af, and which actually is? I prefer older, humbler (ironically) Kendrick Lamar to today's.As for being the GOAT, no. He's one of the better rappers, but saying he's the GOAT is discrediting sooo many artists.He seems like the ultimate all-time favorite rapper for most teens. And I'd rather it be that way than the aformentioned trash bag mainstream rappers.Some songs to check out if you have taste similar to mine:Logic - Everybody, Fade Away, 5AMChildish Gambino - 3005, BonfireJ Cole - No Role Modelz, Wet Dreamz2pac - Changes, California LoveJayZ/Biggie - Empire State of Mind
Who is the best, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Lil Pump, or Drake?
Best lyricist: Kendrick and cole (in that order).Best ARTist: Kanye and Kendrick.Most impactful: Kanye, Drake, Kendrick, and Cole (in that order).Most talented: Kendrick, Kanye, Cole, and Drake. They all have their own talents.Best flow: Cole, Kanye - Drake - Kendrick.Best story teller: Kendrick, and Cole.Best at repeating the same thing: lil dump.Most complex: Kendrick.Most versatile: Kendrick.Best discography: Kendrick.Best mixtapes lyrically: Cole and Kendrick (in that order).Best early work: Kanye, Drake, Cole — Kendrick (in that order).Most classic albums: Kanye and kendrick (in that order).Best vibes: Kendrick, cole, and Kanye.Best content: Kendrick.Most dedicated: Kendrick and Kanye.Most technical: Kendrick.Best delivery: Kendrick.Fastest delivery: Kendrick.Effortless delivery: Cole.Most aggressive: Kendrick.Most likely to slap a “pussy-ass nigga” and make it look sexy: Kendrick.Best party songs: Drake… lil dump.Most fans: Drake.Most relatable (for me): Kendrick, and cole.Most growth: Kendrick.Most hair growth: Cole…yeahMost likely to snap on a track: Kendrick.Most humble: Kendrick…sit down.Most likely to end a career: Kendrick.Most likely to make a hit: Drake.Most likely to make your hotline bling: Drake.Most likely to be forgotten: That one Gucci gang kid.Most features: Kendrick.Most likely to run for president: Kanye.Most likely to step down as president: Kanye.Who would win in a battle: Kendrick.Most thought provoking: Kendrick, Cole, kanye… yeahMost easy to digest: Drake.Most puzzling: lil dump.Most chill: Cole.Most experimental: Kendrick, Kanye, and Drake.Most recognizable: Drake, and Kimye.Most recognized (Pulitzer Prize, nominations, Harvard archives, culture classics): Kendrick.So overall who's the best?I'd say lil dumps the best. He lacks and has almost no talent, but still managed to be on this list.
Do you ever get inspiration while listening to music? If so, what's your favorite type of music to listen to?
Yes, definitely.“There’s nothing new under the sun,” so I would highly recommend looking for inspiration when you are stuck in a rut.In the context of creating or producing music, it is common practice to get inspiration from other successful pieces of music.A producer usually has a few go-to tracks that they use as a reference for their own mixes. It has nothing to do with the genre or the artist but more with how the vocals sit in the mix, or how the drums were recorded, etc. The mix resonates with them on a powerful level and they want to convey that same emotion in their own work.As far as songwriting, a good example would be the band Coldplay. Every song I have heard from Coldplay sounds like another song I have already heard, but of course, has their own twist. They even got into a little trouble over “Viva la Vida” with another famous guitarist/songwriter who had a legitimate beef that they took his melody verbatim and made millions.That being said, I believe there is a HUGE difference between plagiarism and inspiration. You wouldn't even know what music is if you didn't hear it before, and the brain and the subconscious is so complex that most of the time you won't even realize when you are being inspired by something from your past.Personally, when writing music, if I don't have anything to get me going, I will take a hit song I like, and take something subtle (usually drum beat) and that gets things warmed up. Given, I also recommend writing 100 songs and picking the best 10 before hitting the studio.As far as a soecific genre to get inspiration. Listen to it all. All the greats. I am not fond of country music, but I can definitely appreciate Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw. Heck, “my old friend” by Tim McGraw made me cry.If the question is referring to “inspiration” in a more general sense, my bad. Can't help you there.
Is Kanye West a musical genius?
I am going to go out on a limb here and say an emphatic YES.Before anyone reads a different meaning into my answer, let me clarify- Kanye West is not a lyrical genius in the same way that Jay-Z, B.I.G., Nas, Eminem or Big Pun are. He is not as technically gifted as they are (although he has absolutely improved in this regard compared to his college dropout days).However, his lyrics always manage to strike a mind-blowing level of honesty and a ridiculous level of observational detail. He is also somehow able to make people from completely different backgrounds love his music and actually know and recite his words.People don't like Kanye West because he is able to come up with lines like:Too many Urkels on your team that's why your Wins-lowBut because time and time again he says things like:They say I talk with so much emphasis/Ooooooh they sooo sensiitiveee Seriously who says this? We all think it, but he's the only one that managed to put it in a rhyme)What's a black beatle anyways? A fuckin roach? I guess thats why the put me in fuckin coachFace it Jerome, get searched more times than Brandon/ Look all through my bags act like its randomThese are lines that even a ten year old can understand. The honesty, simplicity and all around accessibility of his lines will win over a crowd way more times than a more technically capable rapper. See this friendly battle with Mos DefNotice how Kanye gets more people laughing and more into his rhymes than the obviously more technically impressive Mos Def. Make no mistake, this is a lyrical skill and it is certainly as genius as it gets ("Can you please donate sex to the poor"????). I will also go out on a limb to say that the more technically capable rappers can not rap like Kanye West. On the other hand Kanye West has become more technically adept over the years and feels right at home on a song with any of the best rappers (Jay-Z pretty much admitted to Kanye's verse being better than his on Run This Town).When it's all over and the curtains are drawn, I really do hope that people pay him his due and recognize that he is not just a great producer that raps. I hope they realize that what he does lyrically is truly special.